PCB prepares to send Ajmal, Hafeez to India for tests

Karachi: Pakistan's suspended off-spinners, Saeed Ajmal and Muhammad Hafeez will be sent to Chennai in India to undergo informal biomechanic tests as part of PCB's desperate attempts to get them cleared for next year's World Cup.

Saeed Ajmal

PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan told the media today in Lahore that they had applied for the visas to the Indian high commission in Dubai."As soon as they get their visas they will go to Chennai where there is an ICC accredited biomechanics laboratory," Khan said.

The PCB's decision to send the two players to Chennai has apparently been influenced by recent results of Sri Lanka's Sachitra Senanayake and New Zealand's Kane Williamson, who have been cleared to resume bowling in international cricket on Tuesday after their actions were declared legal.

Khan said the Pakistan Cricket Board was making all efforts to get Hafeez and Ajmal's bowling actions also cleared by the ICC before the World Cup. "Hopefully the results from Chennai will be positive for us but at same time both players have to play some domestic cricket to convince the bowling action review committee they are still effective with corrected actions," he added.

The decision to send Ajmal and Hafeez to Chennai came after discussions between the PCB and Pakistan team management which felt that it was serving no purpose to keep Hafeez for the one-day series against New Zealand. "Pakistan needs Hafeez to be bowling again as he is an important cog in the one-day side and vital to our chances in the World Cup," another official said.

Both Ajmal and Hafeez had their bowling actions reported and then failed the ICC tests. A reliable source said the PCB was more confident about Hafeez being able to rectify the issues in his bowling action before the World Cup but still had doubts over whether Ajmal will be cleared.